Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pulmonary hypertension as a cause of atrial fibrillation in young horses: four cases (1980-1989).
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1991
- Authors:
- Gelberg, H B et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, four young horses of different breeds experienced serious heart problems and ultimately died from heart failure. They all had very high blood pressure in the lungs, an enlarged right side of the heart, and no significant tissue damage in the heart or lungs. Three of the horses showed changes in the blood vessels in their lungs, which contributed to their condition. The findings suggest that these horses had primary pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) that led to heart enlargement, irregular heartbeats, and heart failure. Unfortunately, the treatment did not save these horses.
Abstract
Four young horses of various breeds and suffering from atrial fibrillation died of heart failure. All had markedly high pulmonary arterial pressure, right-sided cardiomegaly, and lack of histologic lesions in the right atrium or pulmonary parenchyma. Three horses had hypertrophy and/or necrosis of the tunica media of the pulmonary vasculature. Clinical signs of disease, physiologic data, and pathologic findings indicated that these horses had primary pulmonary hypertension with secondary right-sided cardiac ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2019543/